The Irish Natura & Hill Farmers Association (INHFA) have expressed concern about the possible unravelling of the Common Agriculture Policy (CAP).Speaking on this national president Vincent Roddy detailed how “CAP is one of the few common policies at EU level that has worked and stressed the need for a ring-fenced CAP budget.
Soundings from Brussels are, stated Roddy “suggesting that a ring-fenced CAP budget could be scrapped in favour of a new approach, that allows member states to decide how to spend their EU allocation of funding. This he added “would be devastating to the overall CAP project, which at its core has a common approach that includes standard schemes such as the BISS, CRISS and Eco-scheme.”
With the 16th of July set for the unveiling of EU budget and CAP proposals Roddy emphasised the need to protect the overall ethos of the CAP project stating “the need for a ring-fenced budget inside the MFF and the continuation of two pillars with an increased budget to reflect increasing demands.”
Beyond concerns at EU level the INHFA leader also cautioned against the idea of only making environmental payments on certain land types, emphasizing that “all farmland currently receiving CAP support must continue to do so.”
Farmers, he continued “whether they be dairy, cattle, sheep or tillage are all operating within the specific parameters as defined through CAP conditionality, whilst delivering an agricultural output, albeit at different levels depending on the land type.”This he stressed “is what CAP conditionality is about and why we have always sought a uniform payment rate.”
In supporting all farmers and ensuring as many farmers as possible remain on the land, we are, he maintained “ensuring the continuation of a strong lobby group which protects all farmers.”
This he continued “is something we should not take for granted and there are definite lessons to be taken from a weak farming lobby in the United Kingdom that appear to have little or no influence and are hurting badly as a result of this.”
The INHFA president concluded by emphasising the need to protect the current CAP model and encouraged our politicians both at home and in Brussels “to use whatever influence they have to deliver a strong and fair CAP with an increased budget.”